Van noord



Sept. 20, 1971 A VAN NQQRD Re. 27,172

REMOTE CONTROL MIRROR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 20, 1964 W MINVENTOR. I 22 flan new JZbW/ooro 25 Z73? w W 9 a WM ATTOP/VEV Sept. 20,1971 J VAN NOORD Re. Z'IA'IZ REMOTE CONTROL MIRROR 3 Sheets-Sheet 8Original Filed Jan. 20. 1964 R V m M N 1w w a A &&&%X.\ \E L w find/2x11 J 66/2/6019 Sept. 20, 1971 VAN NQQRD Re. 27,172

REMOTE CONTROL MIRROR Original Filed Jan. 20, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet SINVENTOR.

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HTWPA/EV United States atent Ofice Re. 27,172 Reissued Sept. 20, 197127,172 REMOTE CONTROL MIRROR Andrew J. Van Noord, Grand Rapids, Mich.,assignor to Kent Engineering, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Original No. 3,370,479, dated Feb. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 338,892, Jan. 20,1964. Application for reissue Feb. 27, 1970, Ser. No. 15,306

Int. Cl. F16c 1/10 U.S. Cl. 74-501M 21 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A two-wire remote control mirror including ahousing on a swivel base and having the mirror mount secured to theinside back wall of the housing from under the front edge of the mirroras tilted back for such purpose.

This invention relates to rear view mirrors and more particularly toremote control rear view mirrors for use on automotive vehicles and thelike.

Many different types of remote control rear view mirrors have beenproposed for use with automatic vehicles. These have included push-pullrods, rotatable shafts, gear means, combinations of these and stillother means to accomplish the desired mirror head movement. The mostpractical is probably the flexible cable control means for mirrorpositioning wherein straight line access between the controls and themirror is not necessary.

One of the principal difficulties in providing a remote control mirroracceptable to the trade has been to accommodate the means for mountingthe mirror, and the control cables, within a housing having a relativelyslim profile and which is therefore more attractive in appearance.Further, to accomplish this along with savings in production, assemblyand installation costs since distinctively difiicult mirror assembliesare required for each different style and make of car due to fixedmirror base shell designs.

In this latter regard, the rather surprising inability of anyone todevise a commercially acceptable swivel mount remote control mirror hashampered remote control sales to both original equipment manufacturersand the after market. Furthermore, it has made remote control mirrorsfor the passenger sides of vehicles very impractical to provide.

From the foregoing, some of the objects of this invention should beapparent; namely to eliminate in whole or at least in part some of theditficulties mentioned. To more clearly emphasize certain features ofthis invention, a list of a few specific objects may be helpful.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a remotecontrol rear View mirror which makes use of flexible cable controls andis simple and inexpensive in construction and highly attractive inappearance due to an exceptionally slim sideline profile.

Another object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple andinexpensive means of universal support for a mirror member which willlie in close spaced relation to the back thereof and may be used toretain the mirror within a housing which has minimum depth and is mostattractive and uncluttered in appearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide relatively simple meansfor supporting a mirror within a housing and for accommodating andsuitably guiding operative control cables so that they will also lie inclose spaced relation to the back of the mirror member and in a mannerunobstructively operative thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a slim andattractive housing for a mirror which may be used for either a fixed orremotely positionable mirror and wherein he housing itself may bemanually adjustable.

The more specific objects of this invention include providing anexceptionally small, simple and highly effective universal joint supportfor a mirror member which enables it to be secured in very close spacedrelation to the inside back wall of a receptive housing. The supportmeans may be preassembled to the back of the mirror and later securedunnoticeably to the inner back wall of the housing in the final assemblyoperations. Despite the simplicity of the mirror support member it isalso notably formed to receive and properly guide control cable meansfor operative engagement with the mirror head parts in an unobstructivemanner and one assuring positively responsive mirror control.

These and other objects and advantages to be gained in the practice ofthis invention will be better understood and appreciated upon a readingof the following specification in regard to a preferred embodiment andcertain variations of the present invention having reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectioned elevational view of a remote control rearview mirror made in accord with the teachings of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end and partially cross-sectioned view of the remotecontrol mirror assembly shown by the first drawing figure as seensubstantially in the plane of line 2-2 thereon.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional fragmentary plan view of the mirror andits support means as seen in the plane of line 33 in the first drawingfigure.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the base of the mirror assembly shownin the first drawing figure as seen in the plane of line 4-4 thereon.

FIGURE 5 is a partially cross-sectioned elevational view of anotherremote control rear view mirror embodying certain features of thisinvention.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectioned top plan view of the remote control mirrorassembly shown by the last mentioned drawing figure as seen in the planeof line 6-6 thereon.

FIGURE 7 is an inside end view of the mirror support means of the mirrorassembly shown by FIGURE 5 as seen substantially in the plane of line7-7 thereon.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary detail as seen in the plane of line 88 fromdrawing FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is a partially cross-sectioned elevation view of another remotecontrol mirror assembly made in accord with certain teachings of thisinvention.

FIGURE 10 is a top plan cross-sectional view of the mirror assemblyshown by the last mentioned drawing figure as seen in the plane of linell]10.

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of the mirror assembly shown bydrawing FIGURE 9 in the plane of line 11-11 and looking into the mirrorhousing.

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional detail of the mirror support as seensubstantially in the plane of line 12-12 in drawing FIGURE 9, looking inthe direction of the arrows thereon.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is firstmade to the remote control mirror assembly 10 shown by FIGURES l-4.

The mirror assembly 10 includes a base member 12 such as would normallybe secured to the side door or fender wall of an automative vehiclebody. A mirror receptive housing 14 is supported on the base member 12and a mirror 16 is provided within the housing. The mirror member 16 isreceived and supported for universal movement on support means 18 whichare provided within the housing 14 and will subsequently be described ingreater detail.

The base member 12 is of the conventionally known chrome plated andgeneral teardrop shape. A sheet metal screw 20 and a positioning detent22, relatively spaced from each other, are used to locate and fix thebase member to a vehicle body wall where desired.

The base member 12 is also formed to include a concavity or sphericalball socket seat 24. Through the ball socket seat 24 is formed anelongated slot 26, extending lengthwise of the base member 12, andthrough which is extended a threaded fastener 28 for engagement with themirror receptive housing 14 which stands over the base member andextends transversely thereacross.

The mirror receptive housing member 14 is circular in shape and, asmentioned, has the appearance of sitting on its edge and extendingtransversely across the base member 12. It includes a substantiallyplane surfaced, and just slightly convexed, back wall 30 and arearwardly disposed peripheral or marginal annular flange 32. The backwall 30 and the marginal flange 32 of the housing define a rearwardlyopen recess or space 34 within which is received the mirror 16. Themirror receptive space 34 is of substantially the size and shape of themirror member 16, with operative clearance, and is of a depth justsufficient to enable normal adjustment movements of the mirror.

The mirror housing 14 is mounted to the base member 12 by means of aspherical ball joint part 36 which is formed on the lower disposed outerside of the annular flange 32 and is receptive within the ball socketseat 24 of the base member. The screw fastener 28 extends through thesocket seat slot 26 and into threaded engagement with the spherical balljoint part 36. As will be appreciated, the fastener 28 is formed with anunthreaded collar which rides in the socket slot 26. It will also benoted that a spring washer 38 is used to provide the required jointtension for wind resistance and reasonably easy manual positioning.

Other features of the housing swivel joint connection will be mentionedand described in some detail later.

The actual mirror member 16 is circular in shape, like the housing 14,and of a size receptive within the mirror space 34 of the housing aspreviously mentioned. The mirror 16 includes a glass member 40 with areflective backing 42 and provided within a close fitting case 44.Rearwardly disposed and relatively spaced arms 46 and 48 are provided onthe back of the mirror case 44. They may be struck from the back of themirror case and bent outwardly or they may be otherwise providedthereon. They are substantially on diametrically opposite sides of themirror center and are extended for engagement with the mirror supportmeans 18.

Support means 18 includes a bracket member 50 which has a substantiallyfiat back wall part 52 with an opening 54 provided near its lower edge.The opening 54 is receptive of a projection 56 but stands out from thehousing wall 30 within the mirror receptive space 34. The lower side ofthe projection 56 is chamfered or beveled and the lower edge of thebracket wall, below the opening 54, is formed to include a web 58 whichmatches and is secured to the housing wall projection 56 by a screwfastener 60.

A pair of relatively spaced horizontal arms 62 and 64 are extendedoutward from the bracket wall 52. They are located about the bracketwall opening 54 and are intended to be disposed substantially centrallywithin the housing 14 when the bracket is mounted therein.

A cross arm member 66, including a vertical arm 68 and a horizontal arm70, is received and retained between the mirror case arms 46 and 48 andthe bracket arms 62 and 64. The ends of the horizontal arm 70 are formedto include pin ends 72 which are received in receptive openings in themirror case arms 46 and 48. The vertical arm 68 is preferably engaged tothe bracket arms 62 and 64 by a pivot pin 74.

A pair of flexible control cable wires 76 and 78 are used to adjust andcontrol the mirror 16. They are shown disposed in protective sheathswhich are not separately identified and are assumed to be commonlyknown. The sheathed ends of the control wires are received in receptivebores provided within embossments 80 and 82 on the front face of thebracket wall 52. The control wire 76 is bared and extended straightthrough the embossment 80 for engagement with the extended end of themirror case arm 46. The control wire 78 is also bared and then threadedthrough an arcuate passage forming member 84, which is part of thesupport bracket 50, so that it extends transversely of the other controlwire and for engagement with a relatively rearwardly disposed tab 86 onthe cross arm member 66.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that pushpull movement of thecontrol cable wire 76 will cause oscillation of the mirror 16 about theaxis of the horizontal cross arm 70. Like movement of the control cablewire 78 will cause pivotal movement of the mirror 16 about the axis ofthe vertical cross arm 68.

The control cable wires 76 and 78 may be used in both tension andcompression to operate the mirror 16, but in some instances a biasingspring may be used to relieve or avoid the compressive load on the thinor flexible control cable wire. For example, biasing spring 88 is shownconnected between the bracket 50 and the mirror case 44. The biasingspring is offset from both the horizontal and vertical axes of the crossarm member 66. The spring 88 is shown to bias the mirror in a cockedposition which is cooperatively counteracted by the frictional drag ofthe two control cables.

The control cables 76 and 78 pass through an access passage 90 in theball head part 36 of the housing flange 32. They extend from the passagethrough the elongated slot 26 in the socket seat 24 of the base supportmember 12. The spring washer 38 has the tang which would normally coverthe cable passage 90 relieved to avoid interference with the cables. Itis also designed to receive a positioning detent 92, formed on theunderside of the socket seat 24, between a pair of the spring fingertangs so that it will not turn in use and accidentally bind or damagethe control wire cables.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the mirror 16 ispositionable on the universal joint support 18 within a very shallowhousing 14 and that full remote control of the mirror is affected by asingle pair of wires readily and unobstructively received in the narrowspace between the back of the mirror and the back of the mirrorreceptive housing.

The mirror supporting bracket 50 is secured to the back of the mirrorcase 44. The control cables 76 and 78 are threaded through the receptivepassages in the preassembled base and housing and are then engaged tothe bracket and mirror. The mirror is next placed in the housing withthe opening in the bracket wall receiving the projection 56 formed onthe backwall of the housing therethrough. The top of the mirror istilted back into the housing, causing the bottom to extend just slightlyoutside the housing and to provide access therebehind to the bracketfastening screw 60.

The control cables 76 and 78 may be extended to wherever they may bebest used and attached to suitable cable operating means (not shown).

The mirror housing 14 is manually adjusted to the general positiondesired and thereafter the control wires will position the mirror in thehousing for whatever precise viewing angle is desired.

The same housing 14 may be modified to receive a fixed mirror therein.Since the housing itself is adjustable on the base 12, a conventionallyknown mirror having the same styling appearance may be made from thesame parts.

Referring now to FIGS. -8:

Where appropriate and proper, liker reference numerals with adistinctive prefix numeral are used to identify parts having asimilarity of structure or purpose to parts previously described. Likereference numerals are used to show like parts used for the samepurpose. This correlation of reference numerals is for a continuity ofdiscussion without an unnecessary repetition of descriptive details Themirror assembly 110 includes a one piece base 112 and housing 114. Themirror 116 is mounted in the housing on a support 118.

The mirror support 118 includes a bracket 150 having a pair ofhorizontal disposed and vertically spaced arms 162 and 164 which arereceptive of a cross arm universal joint member 166 in trunnion supporttherebetweeu. The other cross arm of the member 166 is engaged to a pairof vertically disposed and horizontally spaced arms 146 and 148 whichare provided on the back of the mirror case 144.

A pair of control wire cables 176 and 178 are received through thebracket 150 in slotted passageways 175 and 177, to a position normal tothe mirror 116. The control Wire 176 is engaged to a tab 145 struck fromthe mirror case 144 to afford control movement about the horizontal axisof the cross arm member 166. The control wire 178 is engaged to a web179 provided between the arms of the cross arm member 166 and offsetfrom the vertical axis, to affect pivotal movement about the verticalaxis.

A suitable opening 190 is provided between the base and housing for thepassage of the control wire cables 176 and 178 and for access to theretainer screw 160 which anchors the bracket 150 to the inner backwallof housing 114. A pair of spaced projections 151 and 153 with locatorpins provided on the ends thereof, guide walls 155 and 157, and abracket supporting projection 159 serve to receive and center thebracket 150 on the back wall of the housing.

Referring now to FIGURES 9-12:

Mirror assembly 210 includes a base 212 which has an upwardly andrearwardly disposed gooseneck part 213 to which is secured a housingpart 214 receptive of a mirror 216 therein. The mirror 216 is mounted ona support 218 provided in the housing shell.

The rearwardly disposed part of the gooseneck extension 213 is formed toprovide an opening 215 within which is received and rotatably journalleda ball head projection 236 formed from the back side and eccentricallyof the housing 214. A convex member 217 is fitted in the concave side ofthe housing wall projection and is retained by a fastener 219 and biasedby a spring washer 238.

Control cables 276 and 278 are received through the hollow base support212, centrally through the ball head projection 236 on the back of themirror housing, through passages 290 in the member 217, between tangs ofthe spring washer 238, and through the bracket 250 provided in the backwall of the housing for control engagement with the mirror 216.

The bracket 250 includes a pair of horizontally disposed and verticallyspaced arms 262 and 264 which cooperate with a pair of verticallydisposed and horizontally spaced arms 246 and 248 provided behind theback of the mirror 244 and receiving and supporting a cross armuniversal joint member 266 therebetween. The control cables 276 and 278are received through the bracket member and are respectively engaged toa tab 245 on the back of the mirror case and offset from the horizontalaxis, and to a web 279 provided on the cross arm member 266, and offsetthereon from the vertical axis, for universal control movement of themirror as in the previously described mirror assembly units. A mirrorhead biasing spring 288 is secured between the back of the mirror andthe backwall of the bracket member 250 at a position offset from bothpivotal axes of the cross arm member 266 in a manner to balance the pullof the operating cables.

The bracket 250 is formed to provide a shoulder flange 258 which isengaged to a housing wall projection 256 and secured by a fastener 260.The bracket is centered in the ball head opening 'of the housing andpositively located relative thereto. The eccentric mounting of themirror enables the upper edge to be moved out of the housingsufficiently to provide access to the fastener 260.

The bracket 250 may be disposed to provide the pivotal center of themirror at the pivotal center of the housing shell since the one iswithin the sphere of the other.

As with the mirror assembly 10 first described, essentially the samebase, housing shell and mirror components may be used to provide a fixedand manually adjustable rear view mirror having the same stylingappearance, if desired. A different type of support for a fixed mirrorwould be provided (not shown) and the control cables would beeliminated.

I claim:

1. A remote control rear view mirror, comprising;

a housing having a rearwardly disposed opening,

a remotely controllable mirror member received in said housing andclosing said opening, remotely actuated motion transmitting meansoperatively connected to said mirror member,

a member having said mirror positively engaged thereto for pivotalsupport about transverse axes,

and means accessible through said opening for securing said pivotalsupport member to said housing behind said mirror member as tilted insaid housing opening for such purpose.

2. The remote control mirror of claim 1,

said support member being secured to said housing apart from theengagement of said mirror member therewith and closer to a side edge ofsaid housing for easier access thereto behind said mirror.

3. The remote control mirror of claim 1,

said housing having an access opening provided therethrough for controlcable access to said mirror and having said fastening means disposedaccessibly relative thereto.

4. The remote control mirror of claim 1, including means engaging a sidewall of said housing for supporting said housing for pivotal movementindependent of said mirror member and including with said housingcomplementary parts of a ball and socket pivotal connectiontherebetween.

5. The remote control mirror of claim 4,

said housing supporting means being formed to include a passagewayextending through said ball and socket parts and having mirror operatingcable means extending therethrough, and connected to said motiontransmitting means.

6. The remote control mirror of claim 4,

said housing supporting means having cable means operative of saidmirror passing therethrough, and connected to said motion transmittingmeans.

7. Means for supporting a mirror member in a receptive housing forremote control actuation, and comprising;

a member including means of pivotal engagement to the back side of aremote control mirror,

said member having a portion and fastening means received therethroughfrom the side next adjacent the back of the mirror for fixed engagementof said member within said mirror receptive housing,

and control cable guide passages provided through said member foractuation of the mirror member.

8. The mirror support of claim 7, including,

means provided on said pivotal member and separate from said pivotalengagement means for biasing said mirror in opposition to cable controlactuation thereof.

7 9. The mirror support of claim 7, said portion [back wall] beingextended and said means of fixed engagement being received therethroughat an angle commensurate with the pivotal movement afforded the remotecontrol mirror in the receptive housing to permit access thereto. 10.The mirror support of claim 7, said means of pivotal engagementincluding a trunnion supported crossed arm member having at least onearm thereof formed for control cable engagement therewith.

11. A remote control rear view mirror, comprising;

a housing having a mirror member received and supported therein forcontrolled movement independent of said housing,

cable means connected to said mirror member and operative from a remotelocation for positioning said mirror in said housing,

and means engaging a side wall of said housing for supporting saidhousing for movement and including passage means receptive of said cablemeans unobstructively therethrough.

12. The remote control mirror of claim 11,

said housing supporting means including a ball and socket jointincluding spring washer tensioning means relieved for the passage ofsaid cable means therethrough.

13. The remote control mirror of claim 12,

said spring washer tensioning means being relatively immovably disposedin said ball and socket joint.

14. A remote control rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein saidsupport member and said mirror member are engaged and held together bypivot means for obtaining movement about said transverse axes.

15. A remote control rear view mirror according to claim I, wherein saidtransverse axes are comprised of pivot members respectivelyinterconnecting said mirror member and said pivotal support member.

[6. A remote control rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein saidmeans for securing said pivotal support member to said housing isefiective to cause operative engagement between said support member andincluding a mounting surface formed in said housing for precludingrelative twisting movement between said support member and said mountingsurface.

17. A remote control rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein saidmeans for securing said pivotal sup port member comprises at least onethreadable fastener means received through a portion of said pivotalsupport member and threadably engages with a mounting surface formed insaid housing, said fastener means being received through said portion ata point thereof eccentrisally disposed with respect to the central axesof the mirror.

18. A remote control rear view mirror according to claim I, wherein saidsecuring means comprises a screw fastener and means precluding thetwisting of said support member in said housing, said means precludingsaid twisting being separate and apart from said screw fastener.

19. .4 rear view mirror, comprising; a housing having a rearwardlydisposed opening, a mirror member received in said housing and closingsaid opening, a member having said mirror engaged thereto for pivotalsupport about transverse axes, and means accessible through said openingfor securing said pivotal support member to said housing behind saidmirror member as tilted in said housing opening for such purposes.

2-9. A rear view mirror, comprising; a housing having a rearwardlydisposed opening, a mirror member received in said housing and closingsaid opening, a member having said mirror engaged thereto for pivotalsupport, and means accessible through said opening for securing saidpivotal support member to said housing behind said mirror member astilted in said housing opening for such purpose.

21. A remote control rear view mirror, comprising; a housing having arearwardly disposed opening, a remotely controllable mirror memberincluding motion transmitting means operatively connected to said mirrormember received in said housing and closing said opening, a memberhaving said mirror engaged thereto for pivotal support, and meansaccessible through said opening for securing said pivotal support memberto said housing behind said mirror member as tilted in said housingopening for such purpose.

References Cited The following references cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,629,286 2/1953 Budreck 248-483 3,183,736 5/1965Jacobson 7450l 3,191,498 6/1965 Priebe 74-501UX 3,198,071 8/1965 Gosling7450l MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R.

Dedication Ree 27,172.Andrew J. Van Noord, Grand Rapids, Mich. REMOTECONTROL MIRROR. Patent dated Sept. 20, 1971. Dedication filed Dec. 29,1980, by the inventor.

Hereby dedicates to the Public the entire term of said patent.

[Official Gazette May 26, 1981.]

